India says it has not territorial ambitions over border with China

Asserting that it has no territorial ambitions, India today said it wants to resolve all issues with China with “honesty” and asked the China government to come forward to end the “perceptional differences” over the border. Home Minister Rajnath Singh also sounded unperturbed by the increasing cooperation and friendship between China and Pakistan.

“There is a perceptional difference along the Sino-Indian border. China says here is the border. We say no, here is the border,” he said here in Uttar Pradesh after inaugurating a battalion camp of border guarding force ITBP.

“India wants a peaceful resolution of all disputes… We have been trying to resolve the border problem. China should come forward,” Singh added.

The two countries are discussing resolution of the border dispute through a mechanism of Special Representatives, who have held a number of rounds of talks.

He underlined that India never had any territorial ambitions and wants resolution of “perceptional differences” on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

“We are not expansionist. India’s history says that we have never been expansionist. We have never attacked any country. We are worshippers of peace. China should understand this. We want to resolve all issues with honesty,” the Home Minister said.

At the same time, he mentioned the work being done to upgrade the infrastructure along the LAC as part of defensive measures.

Thirty five new border posts of ITBP have already been sanctioned, out of which 22 are going to start functioning soon, he said, adding work is on at 27 priority roads out of the 34 sanctioned by MHA.